Merlin : or, the early history of King Arthur : a prose romance / edited ... by Henry B. Wheatley

CHAPTER IX.
THE VISIT OF KING BAN AND KING BORS TO ARTHUR; AND THE TOURNAMENT AT LOGRES.

Now, seith the storye, that whan the messagers were departed from Arthur,and that he hadd stuffed his Citees and euery castell with soche peple as that Merlin hadde hym counseiled, for he knewe well whiche were gode and trewe, and he wiste also whiche were with-oute treson. And whan all this was don, Merlin come to hym and seide, "Sir, be gladde and mery, for Vlfin and Bretell haue well do theire message." And than Merlin tolde what aventre hem fill by the wey, and how they were assailed of vij knyghtes, and how thei hem delyuerd, and how they haue spoke with the two kynges, and how thei be now entred in to the see, and how thei haue lefte here londes in kepynge of the two knyghtes, and also of the tokene of the rynge. "Now, beith well a-vised that ye resceyve hem so wurshipfully as soche high men and grete of astate and high renon, and they ought to be youre men, and they beth I-born of the highest lynage of the worlde, and moche higher than ye be youre self, and so be theire wyves also." And the kynge seide to Merlin, "I pray yow telle me how I shall do and how I shall

me contene, and I shall do as ye me comaunde." Thanne Merlin taught hym how he sholde do: "hange the stretes ther thei sholde come with riche clothes, and make alle the dameselles to synge carolles and to go ageins hem synginge oute of the town, and ye youre self shall ride agein hem." "And whan shull they come?" seide the kynge. Quod Merlin, "They shall be here on sonday er pryme." And the kynge seide he wolde do as he hadde devised, and Merlin taught hym all how he sholde hym gouerne. Thanne Arthur made his ordenaunce to resceyve the two kynges, and a-bode in soche wise to the sonday. And the kynge and hys barouns were on horse bak, and the archebisshop yede a-gein hem with grete procession; and ther as they dide mete, grete was the ioye and the wurship that eche of hem did to other, and so they entred in to the town alle to-geder, and ther thei were met with caroles and daunces, and with all maner of ioye. And whan they were come to the paleise, the kynge Arthur yaf grete yeftes to the meyne of the two kynges, after the astate and degre that they of were: ffor he yaf horse and palfreyes, and robe and armures full feire and riche; and all this he dide by the counseile of Merlyn. And so was Arthur gretly preysed and moche beloued a-monge grete and riche and pore, and in especiall of hem that neuer hadde hym seyn, but for the reporte that was of hym. Gretly they merveled where he myght haue alle the richesse that he ther yaf, so that with-Inne litill tyme, all that repeyred a-bowte hym hadde so grete love to hym, that thei sworn thei wolde hym neuer faile.

Than these lordes entred in to the Citee of Logres, be-gan the caroles and the daunces of the ladies and damsels, and the turnementes of yonge bachelers, that all the day dured till the nyght, and the town was thourgh hanged with clothes of silke, [folio 44b] and it was feire wedir and clere, for it hadde not yet nothir reyned ne snowed ne frosen, but was as stille as a-boute aust; and the stretes were strowed with small grasse, and incense and myrre in fires in the stretes thikke, and in the wyndowes

many lightes, and so swote sauoured thourgh the Cytee that fer men shulde fele the odour. Thus come the lordes to-geder in to the maister mynster, and where as the procession hem a-bode and receyued hem fro fer with humble reuerence: that day songe the archebisshop masse, and whan it was ended they yede vp in to the grete paleyse, where as the mete was arraide with all the coriouse ordenaunce that myght be don, and the thre kynges were sette to-geder at oon table, and the archebisshop, and Antor that hadde norischid Arthur; and kay serued at tables as was reson; and two yonge knyghtes of grete prowesse, and were sones to two casteleins, that oon was cleped Lucas, the boteler, and that other Gifflet, the sone of doo of Cardoell, which hadde be maister forester to Vterpendragon, and thei serued with the stiwarde, and with Vlfin and Bretell, that wele cowde hem enforme so that thei were well serued and richely.

After mete was the quyntayne reysed, and ther at bourded the yonge bachelers, and after they be-gonne a turnemente, and departed hem in two partyes, and were well on eyther syde vij C and CCC of the reme of Benoyk, that kepte hem to-geder in oon partye, and whan the turnemente was assembled redy to smyte to-geder, the kynge ban and the kynge Boors, and her brother that was a mervilouse clerke of Astronomye, noon in that tyme so expert saf Merlin. These were lenynge out at wyndowes, and Arthur and the archebisshop with hem, and Antor, that thei wolde not leve be-helden the turnement on bothe partees, and saugh the signes, and the stedes to neye and crye and to praunce vnder knyghtes and bacheleres, that the hilles and the medowes resouned all a-bowte.

And whan thei were so nygh assembled, than departed oute of the renge a knyght that was cleped Gifflet, the sone of do of Cardoell, that satte vpon a grey stede that merveilously was swyfte, and on that other part com a-gein hym a knyght of benoyk, that was cleped ladynas, and he was of grete renon, and he sette a-gein Gifflet as faste as the stedes myght renne, theire shelde a-boute their nekkes, gripynge the speres, and thei smote to-geder in the sheldes so grete strokes that bothe brake theire

speres, for bothe were they gode knyghtes and couetouse to gete worship; and they mette so to-geder with helmes and sheldes so fiersly, that they semede the yen fill from theire hedes, so eche bar other to the erthe, and theire horse a-bouen hem, and bothe lay longe in sowowne that thei semed deed, and euery man seide that they saugh neuer so crewell in-countre be-twene two knyghtes. With that they renged hem on that oon part, and on that other for the rescewe of the two knyghtes. At the metynge of this turnement was sein many Iustinges, that gladly were be-holden, and some ther were that threw other to the erthe, and some that brake theire shaftes with-oute fallynge to grounde. Whan the speres were broken, thei drough oute swerdes, and be-gan the turney grete and huge; and ther was oon knyght that dide many mastryes [folio 45a] of armes with his body, of whom was moche spoken and preysed thourgh the Contree, and was cleped Lucas, the boteler, and was cosin germain to Gifflet, that had the grete encourtir. This Lucas smote down knyghtes and horse, and be-gan soche dedis of armes, that noon myght his strokes endure. He arached helmes fro hedes and sheldes fro nekkes, and be-gan to do so well, that it was merveile him to be-holde, and the thre kynges preysed him moche, and so dide many other. Grete was the turnement in the medowes by Logres, vpon the ryver of Temse, and longe it endured, that noon ne wiste who sholde haue the better, for on bothe sides were many worthi men, and longe it was er the two were releved that hadden the grete encountre. And whan thei were horsed, thei smeten in to the turnemente, and tho gan Gifflet to do soche dedes of armes, that he and Lucas, the botiller, that thei gate place vpon hem of Benoyk, and put hem fer bakke in the playn feilde; and than com hem to helpe the CCC knyghtes of Benoyk that yet ne hadde no stroke smyten, and on that othir syde come also CCC all fressh, and so eche ran to other. There was grete stour and merveillouse and harde strokes smyten, and whan the speres were broken thei leyde honde to swerdes, and be-gan the chaple so stronge and dured longe tyme. Ther men myght se many feire cheualries don on bothe parties, for ther were many yonge bachelers that

dide right wele; but, a-bove alle other, Gifflet, the sone of Do of Cardoell, and Lucas, the botiller, these tweyn were preised of prowesse a-boue alle other. Whan the turnemente hadde longe indured and they were somdell wery for traueyle, than lept kay, the stywarde, oute of his enbusshement, that yet hadde no stroke smyten, he and other v felowes that were well horsed, and theire shildes a-boute her nekkes, theire launces in their hondes, and whan thei aproched the renges, thei smote in a-monge hem as faucouns amonge starlinges, and bar the firste that thei mette to grounde; and whan theire speres were broke thei drough oute swerdes, and be-gonne to do soche maistryes and dedes of armes, that kay hadde the prys and the wurship of the turnemente on that oon part, and on that other part Gifflet and Lucas, the boteller; and the beste after hem, was Marke de la roche, and Guynas le Bleys, and drias de la foreste sauge, and Belyas, the amerouse, of maydens castell, and Blyos de la casse, and Madyens le crespes, and Flaundryns le blanke, and Grassien, the castelein, and Placidas le gays: these dide so well whan thei come to the turnement, that noon myght agein hem endure; but after that the felowes of the reame of benoyk dide so wele, that they made all the turnement resorte bak to theire firste place, for the felisship of the table of Logres were gon oute for to chaunge helmes, that weren to hewen and rente; and whan thei saugh theire party turned to disconfiture, thei hem hasted and henten speres, and come in to the turnemente as faste the horse myght hem bere, and smote in a-monge the grettest presse, and kay cam before alle his felowes as he that was desirouse to shewe his knyght-hode, and griped a grete growen spere, and he was a merveillouse gode knyght, yef he ne hadde not be so full of wordes, for his euell speche made hym to be hatid of a-monge his felowes, and [folio 45b] also of straungers that herden of hym speke, that after refuseden to go in his felisshep to seche a-uentures in the reame of Logres, that after endured longe tyme, as this boke shall reherse here-afterwarde. This tecche hadde kay take in his norice that he dide of sowke, ffor he hadde it nothynge of norture of his modere, ffor his moder was right a gode lady and wise and trewe;

but of what kay seide, his felowes that knewe his costomes ne rought neuer, but he was full of myrthe and Iapes in his speche, for seide it for noon euyll will of no man, and ther at lough thei gladly that knewe his maners, and on that othir syde he was oon of the beste felowes and myriest that myght be founde. Whan he was come to the turnement, as ye haue herde, he mette with Lydonas, that wele hadde do all the day, and moche he and his felowes peyned to dryve hem of Logres oute of the feilde, and so thei were nygh at disconfiture. And whan kay saugh this he was sory and wroth. Than he smote in to the presse, and mette lydonas in the shelde so sore that he perced thourgh-oute, and the spere poynte stynte oute at the haubrek, and he shof so harde, that he caste hym to the grounde vp-right; and with the same course he smote Grascien, of Trebes, that he ouerthrewe hym and his horse. Than he leyde honde to his swerde, and cride Clarence, the signe of kynge Arthur; and they be-heilde hym, and saugh the socour that he brought, for they wende they hadde all loste. Than they returned, and be-gonne to do so well that they hadde not do so well all the day be-fore.

This Iustynge that Kay hadde don saugh well the kynge Arthur, and the kynge ban and the kynge Boors, his brother, and they preysed moche kay, and seide he was wight and deliuere, and thei be-heilde hym gladly. And whan Lucas, the botyller, saugh kay hadde don so well, he smote the horse the spores in to the grettest presse, and smote Blios so harde that he fill to the grounde, and the spere fly on peses. Than he pulde oute hys swerde and spronge in a-monge hem, and be-gan to yeve grete strokes and to do so well, that moche he was preysed, and so be-gan the turnement newe to enforse for the rescewe of theire felowes. Than com Gifflet freschely armed, his spere in fewtre, as faste as his horse myght hym bere, and saugh Blioberes and two of hys felowes that leyde on kay, the stiwarde, with here swerdes, and heilde hym so shorte that he hadde grete nede of helpe, for thei were thre and he was but alone, and also they were thre the beste of all the turnement, and Placidas hadde hitte kay on the helme, that he lened on his sadill bowe; and whan

Gifflet sye this he for-thought it sore, and he smote blioberis so harde, that he fill to the erthe, bothe he and his horse, and the spere fly on peces, and leide honde to his swerde, and smote Placidas on the helme that he bowed ouer the arson of his sadell, and after leyde on hym so grete strokes, that he was so astooned that he fill to the erthe vp-right, and kay hym dressed, [folio 46a] that grete nede hadde of that socoure, and after be-heilde and knew that it was Gyfflet that so hadde hym delyuered, and thought to quyte hym that bountee yef he myght; and so he dide withynne shorte tyme, as ye shall heren heir-after, and for that thei felishiped first to-geder, and woued well to-geder longe tyme after of grete love alle the dayes of her lyf. Whan Gifflet hadde delyuered kay, as ye haue herde, he loked a-boute hym and saugh Ieroas, that moche hadde greved in that stour; than he griped his swerde and ran vpon hym for ire, and yaf soche a stroke that the fire fley oute, and ther-with he kytte a pece of his helme, and but the swerde hadde swarved, he hadde ben deed for euer-more. The stroke descended vpon the lifte sholder, that he fill to the erthe all blody. Than arose the noyse and the crye, for well wende thei that this syen that he hadde be deed with-oute recouer. Than come his felowes to the rescowe, and on that other parte com the felowes of kay, the stywarde. Than be-gan the medle grete and hidouse, that many were wounded and ouerthrowen er that other was rescowed and sette on horse; and the fyve felowes that were be-fore rehersed, whan thei saugh the medle so be-gonne, thei smot so v of the first that thei metten that thei blushit to the erthe; than thei smyten in amonge hem, and be-gan to do so well, that all hadde merveile how they myght it suffre or endure. Ther be-gan a-gayn the turnement on bothe partyes, and well thei dide in armes on that oon part and that other, Till it drough towarde evenesonge, that the thre kynges descended from the paleise and com in to the place where as was the turnement, and saugh that thei heilde hem euen like, that noon ne wiste wele whiche hadde the better. Than com the thre kynges, and hem departed and seide it was tyme to cesse, for it was to late eny more to turney, and so were they departed, and eche yede to his ostell to

resten, for ther-to hadde thei nede and gret myster, for many were they hurte; and the kynges yede to here euesonge, and than thei yede to soper, and after begonne the carolles and to speke of the turnemente, and asked oon of a-nother, how hem semed of whom that hadde don beste. And thei seide that the kynge ban hadde xv knyghtes that hadde don alther beste more than eny other, and on that other part were viij that hadde don merveiles in armes, and gretly hadde they traueylled and peyned, and moche were thei to a-lowe. Thus heilde they here tales longe, and alwey they yaf the loos and the pris to kay, the stiward, and to Lucas, the boteller, and to Gifflet, the sone of do. These were the thre that beste hadde don, and ofte tymes Iusted, and in euery nede were redy.

Whan the tables were vp, arisen the thre kynges and the Archebisshop and Antor, and Guynebaus, that was brother to the two kynges. Than thei yede into a chamber that was be-syde the halle, towarde the gardyn of the river of temse, [folio 46b] and with hem yede tweyne that ne ought not to be for-yeten, that was Vlfin and Bretell, and so thei pleide and spake to-geder of many thinges. Than be-heilde Vlfin and Bretell, and than he gan to laugh, for he be-thought hym on the wordes that Merlin hadde hym tolde, whan they were gon on his message, how thei were assailed in the deserte of vij knyghtes, and how they dide hem deliuere. Than the kynge cleped hem bothe, and comaunded hem, be the feith that thei hym oughten, that thei sholde hym telle all the trouthe, how thei hadde spedde in their message. Whan thei herde the kynge thus speke, that oon loked on the tother and be-gonne to smyle, and Bretell ansuerde the kynge, that thought well he it knewe thourgh Merlin, and seide, "Sir, wherto sholde we telle you oure spede in oure Iourney, for as wele ye do it knowe as we oure self, thourgh hym that hath it tolde, and therfore it were but speche loste." Than seide the kynge Ban, "Who is that, that hath hym this tolde?" "Certein, sir, the wisest man of the worlde." "And where is he?" quod Ban, "and what is name?" "Sir," quod Bretell, "it is Merlin, and he resteth in my chamber here-ynne, and by his counseile

hath my lorde sente after yow." "Sir," quod kynge Ban, "lete hym come hider, for we haue moche disired hym for to see, for the merveiles that we haue herde of hym spoken." And Arthur seide that so wolde he do with gode will. And than he sente Vlfin for hym, and ther-with a-noon entred Merlin in to the chamber agein Vlfin, and seide, "Returne," and so thei wente be-fore the kynge, and and asked wherefore he hadde sente hym to seche. And the kynge ban blissed hym for the merveile that he hadde, how he myght knowe these thingis, and Merlin seide, "Ther-of no forse, for here-after ye shull wite I-nough."

Than he be-gan to telle a party of his lif, and than com forth Guynebaude, the clerke, and opposed hym of dyuerse thynges, for he was a profunde clerke. And Merlyn hym ansuerde to alle the questiouns that he asked the very trouthe as it was, and so indured longe the disputacion be-twene hem tweyne; and at laste Merlin seide that all for nought he traueylede, "for," quod he, "the more thow sechest the more shalt thow fynde." And than seide Merlin to hem that were a-boute hym, that he hadde neuer founde no clerke that euer hadde spoke to hym of so high clergie, ne not blase, that was so holy a man, ne cowde not so moche enquere. Wher-to sholde I make yow longe tale. But longe they spake to-geder, so that the toon was well a-queynted with that other, and well thei loved to-geder. And whan the disputaciouns were don, Merlin com to the two kynges that were his brethern, and seide, "Lordynges, ye be worthi men and of high renoun, and also ye beth right feith-full and trewe; and lo! here the kynge Arthur, that ought to be youre lorde, and of hym sholde ye holde youre londes and do hym homage; and he ought to helpe yow and to socoure agein alle men, yef ye haue nede." And thei seide, "Merlin, now telle vs how he was chosen to be kynge, and wherfore, and yef Antor knowe whether he be the sone of Vterpendragon." And Merlin seide, "Ye, with-oute faile." Than he tolde hem [folio 47a] alle the thinges like as was be-falle, so that the archebisshop and Vlfin it recorded.

"Merlin," quod the kynge ban, "we will that thow make vs sure of oon thinge that we shall aske, for so moche

we knowe in yow, that ye will not to vs sey no lesynge for all the londe that longeth to the crowne." "A ha," quod Merlin, "ye desire to haue me sworn that it be trewe that I sey." And thei be-gonne to laugh, and seide that ther uas noon so wise as was he in no reame. And Merlin seide, "I graunte youre requeste and youre desire," and so thei toke respite till on the morn. Thus ended theire parlament, and departed and yede to bedde, and the thre kynges and the archebisshop lay in oon chamber, for they wolde not departe on sondre. And moche Guynebaude a-queynted hym with Merlin, that taught hym many grete maistres and many feire pleyes; and Guynebaude well hem vndirstode, as he that was wise and a grete clerke, so that he wrought somme of the craftes ofte in the bloy Breteyne, that longe tyme after endured, and as it shall here-after reherse.